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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. field — for sport
  3. field — a subject
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rock — music
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. mark — a trace
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mate — a partner
  13. mate — a friend
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. mate — to breed
  18. field — farmland
  19. mark — a grade
  20. sharp — clever
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rock — a stone
  24. lash — to lash out

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com